Grass Valley gears up for live IP production

Grass Valley has announced three new products designed for live production: the LDX100 IP-driven camera platform; the compact K-Frame XP video processing engine; and the LiveTouch 1300 replay system.

Grass Valley: Announces latest LiveTouch 1300 live highlights and replay production system

The LDX 100 is a high-speed (up to 3x), UHD camera with native IP connectivity. According to Marco Lopez, Grass Valley’s senior VP of live production: “We’re putting the full power of IP at our customers’ fingertips – right from the camera, removing the need for base stations. The LDX 100 brings together Grass Valley’s deep knowledge of IP and long heritage in live production to create a future-ready camera solution that opens up new possibilities in production workflows.”

The advantages of IP include easy, rapid set-up and configuration and the ability to add features as needed. The camera’s integrated design frees up multiple rack units per camera that were previously dedicated to camera base stations and simplifies the logistics for mobile productions when having to pair the right number of cameras to CCUs at each event. The camera is a self-contained IP device that connects directly to the network, at up to 100Gbps, allowing simple connection and discovery of audio, video and control as well as superior PTP timing using open SMPTE IP standards. Implementation of NMOS IS-04 and IS-05 protocols means the camera is instantly identifiable to a network control system such as Grass Valley’s GV Orbit.

It uses an all-new Titan 2/3in UHD image sensor, with B4 lens mount to provide the zoom range and depth of field needed in sports. It also has a new mechanical design that provides ergonomic support for operators lifting and carrying equipment, at-a-glance state indicators for operational status and shower-proof protection against moisture and dust. Flexible software options allow customers to upgrade as needed and only pay for features when they are required.

The GV K-Frame XP video production engine is a compact 8RU switcher suited to multiformat environments and high signal density, even with the increased bandwidth requirements of UHD. Featuring true single stream, full raster, 4K processing at 2160p, the K-Frame XP means no reduction in I/O count in UHD, no reduction in M/Es, keyers or Digital Picture Manipulation in UHD, and no change in operator workflow in UHD.

It is claimed to have the smallest footprint of any professional 4K production switcher, delivering the processing power to handle any resolution and HDR. The switcher’s 80x40 I/O count is unchanged whether customers are producing in all IP, all SDI, or in hybrid environments at 1.5G, 3G and 12G. The K-Frame XP supports the latest IP and workflow standards such as SMPTE 2110 and AMWA/NMOS IS-04 and -05 standards.

It supports UHD on every input or output stream with no additional conversion and no reduction in I/O count, and comes with up to six full-featured mix effects, each with six full keyers, with associated 2DDPMs, including perspective. There is an option to add up to 16 floating 3D iDPMs. The system is also fully compatible with any Grass Valley Kayenne, Karrera and GV Korona switcher control panel, allowing customers to leverage their existing investments.

The new LiveTouch 1300 live highlights and replay production system allows users to capture video directly from IP sources and delivers expanded collaborative workflow capability making it suitable for mobile production.

Its HTML5 LiveTouch Dashboard makes system monitoring, control, start up and basic configuration straightforward and quick in the on-and-off environment of an OB truck.

“We developed LiveTouch 1300 to help our customers efficiently create immersive 4K UHD and HDR replays in any production scenario,” said Chris Merrill, Grass Valley’s director of product marketing. “LiveTouch 1300 makes distributed production and collaborative workflows easy and fast.”

The LiveTouch Panel now includes an integrated creative toolset that eliminates the need for external PCs. This latest version also enables multiformat production without changing the operator workflow, with inputs that support up to full raster, single stream 4K UHD/HD processing and HDR/SDR up and down or cross-mapping. Concurrent operators may have access to all cameras and servers to instantly create, edit and playout highlights packages. Simplifying content creation further is Fileflow 4, a new streamlined UI that allows operators to quickly create rules for automated file delivery to social media, archive and other network-based destinations.

Time USA has chosen Primestream systems to provide a comprehensive, integrated media asset management and workflow management infrastructure for its Bryant Park video production facility in New York City.

IBC is owned by

IBC is run by the industry, for the industry. Six leading international bodies own IBC, representing both exhibitors and visitors. Their insights ensure that the annual convention is always relevant, comprehensive and timely. It is with their support that IBC remains the leading international forum for everyone involved in content creation, management and delivery.